myStory

Family History

Marjorie

My Dad told me that on a beautiful "September Morn," Saturday September 1, 1917 to be exact, at 5:10 A.M., I Marjorie was born at the home of my grandparents, Daniel J. Millard and Anna Sofia Anderson, 30 Windsor Lane, Sierra Madre, L.A. Calif. My parents Charles William Millard and Grace Pauline Lackey and my brother Daniel Cecil Millard all welcomed me into the family circle. Grandma took care of us and when Mama was able we returned to the home of my parents in Los Angeles, at 986 E. 52 Place.

Grandma Millard, Daniel and Grace holding Marjorie

My Family and the families of all my parents brothers and sisters were all very close. They all loved to go camping and had many wonderful times together at the mountains and the beaches. My Grandpa and Grandma Millards' home was often the scene of family gatherings as my Mama lost her father before she was married.

On the 12 of November, at the close of World War I my Mama died as the result of the flu epidemic at that time. She was only 27 years old, my brother who was born April 22, 1913 was 4½ years old and I was 14 months old. She was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetary, 3640 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles. My daddy also had the flu and the Doctor wouldn't let him attend Mama's funeral. He told Daddy he'd have orphans instead of Motherless children ~ Daddy went back to bed. I had the flu too, and Doctors told my parents and grandparents I'd never pull through. Grandma sat up with me day and night for a week, but with the help of our Heavenly Father my daddy and I both recovered, and when we were able, Daddy, Danny and I returned home with Grandpa and Grandma to Sierra Madre.

Grandma saw to it that we attended Sunday School each Sunday. The little stone church was called "Bethany Church," it was built of rocks from up in the Sierra Madre Canyon, by a blind stone mason. It is still there at this writing. It is a truly beautiful building. It was here as a child, 3½ or 4 years old, that I memorized my first scripture. John 3:16 - a very beautiful one, which I have never forgotten - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

My Daddy was a Plumber & Baker

In 1920 my grandparents bakery and part of their home burned down. Some neighbors, thinking they were helping, took me to their home and in the excitement no one told Grandma and thinking I was in the burning house, she collapsed. Her health was never very good after that. They rebuilt the house and bakery.

Daddy decided it was too much for Grandma to take care of the three of us, so he advertised for a housekeeper. The lady who was to become my new mother answered the ad. Her name was Hester Elizabeth Armstrong Cunningham. She had a daughter, Willa Dadine Cunningham, born by a previous marriage. She, Willa, was six months older than me, being born March 23, 1917. Our first home was on West Jefferson in Los Angeles. Our second home was at 551 West 41^st Drive near Exposition Park in Los Angeles. This is where I started kindergarten. Willa and I were so near the same size everyone thought we were twins except she had blond hair and mine was dark brown. We girls had lots of fun together and with our older brother Danny.

Mother and Daddy were married March 31, 1923

Our first Christmas together we girls each got dolls and doll buggies and among other things, Danny got a train. We were playing and we girls had to cross the R.R. tracks and Danny's train hit one of our buggies and broke it's headlight - he was heartbroken and we girls felt terrible for there was no way to replace the headlight that day.

We went to see our grandparents each week, which we looked forward to, and in the summer time we'd spend a week or two with them. They were so good to us and like all grandparents, spoiled us with the foods we liked and little gifts when we'd go shopping. Grandpa made the best homemade root beer ever!

L to R – Marjorie Millard, Brother - Daniel Millard, Step-Sister - Willa Cunningham

Each Spring when the circus came to town we went to the parade and then at night we'd go to see the circus. It was so exciting and we'd play circus at home for days afterward. I remember that's how I lost my first teeth, hanging by my knees and my sister twirling by a glove I held in my mouth - like the aerialists did.

Marjorie ridin' down 41st

We took a trip to Mexico, Tijuana, when we girls were five years old and two ladies asked our brother if we girls were his sisters and he told them yes. Then they asked how old we were and he told them and they wanted to know if we were twins and he said, "No mam, there is six months difference in their ages," and of course they laughed, he told our parents he was never going to tell anyone our ages again and he didn't until he was old enough to realize why they had laughed at him.

Right after our second Christmas together I got pneumonia and had to learn to walk over again. Mother had a neighbor take a picture of me.

While we were living on 41^st Drive, mother became ill. The doctor said she had T.B. so we moved back to Sierra Madre. Daddy went back to work in his parents bakery and we had a housekeeper, so Mother could get pleanty of rest. We were all in school by this time and we spent a lot of time with Grandpa and Grandma who lived next door to the bakery which was just a block away from our house.

I got my first and only spanking in school here in Sierra Madre, for going out to the ice mans truck for a piece of ice. The teacher lined us up and had us hold out our hands, palms up, and she came down the line and slapped our hands with a ruler.

Grandpa and Grandma had a huge pepper tree in their back yard and Daddy made us a big rope swing from one of the limbs. We could swing so high we could see out over the whole San Gabriel Valley.

When the people in Grandpa and Grandma upstairs apartment moved to this apartment. We played in closets, under the eaves of the house.

My Sister – Willa Dadine Cunningham

Mother told us that one day our housekeeper was so upset with we girls - we decided to play barber. I cut Willa's hair then she cut mine and we decided mine should have some greasy stuff on it like we'd seen the barber use. Willa put nearly a whole jar of Vaseline on my hair. Mother said Willa's hair wasn't so bad because it was real curly, but mine being straight was a real mess and she though she'd never get the Vaseline washed out of it.

Dress Up – Willa and Marjorie

Our daddy got up very early to go to work to get the bakery goods ready and baked in the big brick oven. He also had a donut machine to fry the donuts in and the last bit of dough he braided and fried. We kids thought this was real special and the first one of us up and dressed got this treat. Needless to say, we'd hide each others clothes, tie underwear and sox in knots, anything to slow the others down so we could be first. I also loved raw pie dough and would slip in the side door of the bakery where daddy was making up the pies and grab me a handful of dough and run away real fast - it sure tasked good!

Being the youngest of we kids I got home from school first and daddy would have his money ready to deposit at the bank and he would let me take it down to the bank for him. I remember how important this made me feel.

During Christmas vacation Fatty Arbuckle, the moving picture comedian, came to Sierra Madre Park, in the center of town. Our whole family went down that evening to see him. He gave all us children balloons and when we blew them up we found they had a nickel inside - that was a whole lot of money at that time.

The big events in town each day were the blowing of the siren on the Fire Station at 12 noon and for the 10 o'clock curfew at night. At 5 p.m. every day but Sunday we'd go down to the Pacific Electric depot in the heart of town to wait for the five o'clock street car to come in and bring the newspaper.

I got my first dog while we were still living in Sierra Madre. Up to this time I had been scared to death of dogs, but one of daddy's salesmen had this Boston Bull Dog in his car and it was "love at first sight" for Jackie and I. My daddy nearly fainted when I came bringing the dog back to the bakery. Seems he was lost and got into the sales mans car when he was at another bakery in Azusa - no one knew who he belonged to and he wouldn't get out of the mans car. He told daddy I could have him if I wanted him, so Jackie became a member of the family for a good number of years.

2735 Kansas Ave. South Gate, CA

In 1924 we moved to that portion of South Gate, west of Long Beach Blvd., known as Magnolia Park, in those days. We lived at 2735 Kansas Avenue, there were only 3 or 4 houses in each block so we had lots of vacant lots to play in. Our mail wasn't delivered to our homes as it is today. We all had our mail boxes on a post on Tweedy Blvd., at the corner of Long Beach Blvd. After Magnolia Park began to grow we finally had our mail boxes at the curb in front of the house and had curb delivery.

Daddy worked as a plumbing estimator for the Thomas Haverty Company. Their offices were at Rosmore and Melrose in Los Angeles and daddy's territory was in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Daddy built our home by himself. We moved in before it was finished inside. Before our bathroom was finished we had an old fashioned "Out House" and we took our baths in galvanized tubs in the middle of the kitchen. (Real pioneer, huh!)

When we had company in the evening one of the things we kids liked to do best was to hang from the ceiling rafters and drop on the bed - it bounced like the trampolines of today - Mother couldn't figure out for a long time why our bed sagged so in the middle. Another thing she couldn't understand was why her carpet sweeper didn't pick up like it should - needless to day, we kids had been taking turns giving each other rides on it.

We went camping a lot at the beach and also in the mountains with friends and relatives. There were always lots of children as well as parents and we'd have fun playing games, hiking, sitting around the campfire singing. Another thing our families always got together and did was to go grunion hunting. Our dad's would build a big fire and make a wind break with blankets, our mothers usually stayed around the fire while our dad's and us kids nearly drowned trying to catch the grunion. It was always so nice to be able to stand around the fire and dry out, roast marshmallows and get warm.

As I look back on these years, I guess by today's standards, we were actually poor but we didn't think so. We were all together as a family, had a warm, if not finished home, we had carpets on the floors, lace curtains at the windows, nice furniture, clean warm clothes, plenty of good wholesome food and good homemade bread. We were really richly blessed and so thankful for all we had, for many of our neighbors weren't as fortunate as we were - so we didn't know that we were poor. We'd run all the way home on bake day for we knew we'd have nice hot bread fresh from the oven with butter and honey or peanut butter or all three and big glasses of milk and homemade cookies for lunch.

Our parents set good examples for we children. They cared for their parents and other family members. If there was anyone ill in the neighborhood, they were the first ones there to nurse, feed the family or whatever else needed to be done. One of our neighbors' husband was mentally ill and at Patton State Hospital in Norwalk. Once in a while he would run off and come home and many times my daddy got up in the middle of the night and took him back to the hospital.

I can appreciate more than ever as the years go by how hard my parents both worked. Daddy worked all day long, then came home and planted and tended gardens on the lot next to us - besides raising chickens and turkeys. On wash day daddy would come home and get mother and take her to work with him so she could rest. My sister and I always set the table and did dishes. We all ate breakfast and dinner together.

Mother had no washing machine so she scrubbed clothes on an old fashioned washing board for several years as well as all her other household chores, baking, cleaning, ironing, mending and so on. She also made nearly all we girls and her own dresses and petticoats. Still every night was family night as we gathered round the kitchen table and played games or listened to mother and daddy tell us stories about their childhood. If daddy had a sales meeting to go to mother would read to us or get out her sewing machine and sew for us and our dolls and Danny would do the pressing.

On Saturdays we all went into Huntington Park to do staple shopping at the big market, go to the "Dime Store", Wineman's if we needed clothing or household items - then after dinner we'd go to the Lyric Theater which was a family show house in those days - with vaudeville.

On Sunday mornings we kids would pile in bed with the folks. It was such fun but it would get too rough for mother and she'd get up and fix breakfast while daddy read us kids the funnies. After breakfast we'd put on our Sunday clothes and go to Sunday School at our little community church. I still have a little New Testament that was given me then.

When we first moved to what was then Magnolia Park, we had to attend Victoria Avenue School in what was then Home Gardens. Long Beach Boulevard was just a two lane road with deep gutters on both sides of the street. The water would be so deep in the gutters on rainy days, that the older boys would carry us little ones across the Blvd. or we would have been washed away.

My parents and the other parents partitioned for Stanford Avenue School. My sister, brother and I were the first three registered there. Our first school rooms were tents with wood stoves for heat. Later on we had wooden bungalows. We really enjoyed school. We all were always in all the school plays.

Small Pox epidemic was severe. We were all vaccinated - mine made me very sick for a few days. I missed 7 days of school. My arm swelled real bad.

On May Day we did something I don't think is done any more. We made May baskets and filled them with flowers and hung them on the front doors of the elderly folks in the neighborhood, then at school we did May Day dances and always finished by winding the Maypole.

When the circus came to town they stayed at Tweedy Blvd. and Alameda. While putting up camp the older boys in the neighborhood would go over and work watering the animals, etc., and earn a free ticket to the circus.

I have always loved babies and children and was always "tending" little ones. Mother said when I carried some of them, they looked as big as I was. Willa and I would get mother to make us a picnic lunch and we'd take the little ones in wagons up to a grove of eucalyptus trees up on the corner of Alameda and Kansas.

My daddy and brother Danny bought a kit and built our first radio. Up till then we just had crystal sets. We thought they were super, but when our radio was finished we were all thrilled and would gather around it to listen to the shows. Amos and Andy, One Man's Blue Monday, Family Jamboree.

President Calvin Coolidge

Mother didn't like baseball games so I'd listen to them with my Dad. I liked to play baseball with the kids. If there were enough of us we'd have teams - if not we played work up or three flies up.

We didn't have trash or garbage pick-up then and the neighbor boys would dig a huge big hole, then fill it with water and we'd all play in the water - then all the neighbors would bring their trash, etc. and bury it in the hole.

At this time in my life, Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. He is the first president I can remember. My parents got involved in politics here in Magnolia Park. They and other neighbors formed the Magnolia Park Improvement Association. They held regular meetings, usually they commenced with box suppers and to all we children they were a real picnic. Our parents worked real hard to get Magnolia Park annexed to South Gate. The election that made this a reality was real exciting. Mother's kitchen was like a small restaurant as she fed election workers all day long - who [would] picked up voters and drove them to the polls. It rained all day. When the votes were counted and "We had won," all the families piled into their cars and we had a parade up thru Huntington Park and back home - now South Gate.

Our home was the gathering place for the holidays as long as I can remember. Our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - the one exception was New Years Eve which we spent with Aunt Wanita and Uncle Forrest and Marguerite. After seeing the old year 1926 out and the new year 1927 in we were driving home and came upon an auto accident. My dad stopped to see if he could be of any help and left all of us in the car. In a few minutes a drunk driver sped through the police stop and struck my father. When it happened mother said, "That looked like Daddy," but we kids were sure it wasn't. The ambulance driver chased the driver and caught him when he crashed is car. He came back and took daddy to the hospital. The police thought daddy was dead. Mother couldn't drive and a man and his wife offered mother help but she said she didn't want anything to happen to them or family. Mother couldn't drive and a young sailor in the crowd offered to take us to the hospital or any place we might need to go. He said he had no family and not to worry about him. The emergency hospital was so full - people were laying on the floor in the hall. They gave Daddy first aid and let us take him home. The Dr. didn't think he'd live, he came to see daddy every day and he finally told mother if he lived he might drop dead or go crazy in the next 7 years, but if he didn't he would live a normal life span. I remember going out and sitting on the curb and praying to my Heavenly Father to let my daddy live. He answered our prayers and daddy recovered.

All during daddy's recovery his boss, Mr. Haverty, came to see dad as did other employees and good friends. Mr. Haverty brought him his pay check and after daddy's recovery he had double vision for several months and Mr. Haverty hired a young man to drive for him.

In June of 1927 my dear Grandmother Millard passed away and she is buried near my Mama in the Odd Fellows Cemetary as are Mama's parents. Mother cared for her and my parents as a paid nurse.

Our 1927 Ford

In August of 1927 we took a trip back to Allerton, Iowa, mother's home town. We had a 1927 Ford Touring car and daddy was well and did all the driving. We had some interesting experiences and saw some of the beauty in this wonderful USA. Two things that really impressed me were the Painted Desert in Arizona and the Cliff Dwellers. In Gallup, New Mexico, the Indians were having their yearly tribal meetings. It was like a carnival almost. They were performing dances, fetes of strength, and all in their native dress. Their feathered headdresses and the buckskin women and mens clothes were beautiful. Their bead work was just exquisite. They had tepees set up in the town square or plaza and the dancing and eating continued into the early morning hours. One of the fetes that really impressed me was one of the men pulled a car by the hair of his head.

Montezuma Hotel, New Mexico

We went into Las Vegas, New Mexico and saw the house where daddy was born on October 26, 1889. The house was across the street from the river. There was an Ice House up the river and in the winter time when the river froze over, grandpa and other men cut ice from the river and shipped it by train to California and the east and stored it in the ice house for use the following summer. (See Grandpa's Obituary) We also visited the Montezuma Hotel which grandpa helped build. It was still a beautiful building in a beautiful setting. The Catholic church was using it as a school or monastery. We met Mr. and Mrs. Romera, friends of Grandpa and Grandma Millard and daddy's godparents.

Grandpa Armstrong's

When we arrived at Grandpa Armstrong's one of the first things we kids did was break the water pump at the well outside the kitchen. We had never used a pump and thought it was great fun to pump water for grandpa's garden - Daddy had a repair job right away.

It was fun meeting relatives and friends mother had told us about. We saw the house where she was born. We had a wonderful time at mothers' Aunt Em's farm. We rode the horses, gathered eggs from the barn, went down to the pasture where the cows and calves were grazing and playing. There were also several sows with litters of baby pigs. One of them was real mean and chased us away. For children born and raised in the city this was a real adventure. I celebrated by 10^th birthday here too.

Aunt Em's farm

On our return trip home we encountered lots and lots of rain. Dan and Daddy had to get out in the rain and mud and put chains on the tires, slipping and sliding as they worked. When we reached Holbrook they told us ours was the first car there in a week. We were so glad to get back home to South Gate in time to start school.

In Oct. of '27 I got pink eye from some books brought form another [school] that had not been fumigated. I lost my eyesight - couldn't tell day from night. Mother took me every other day on the street car to an eye specialist in L.A. I lost over 15 days of school - All the kids in my class wrote me one day - I had to wear glasses for a year after this and the kids called me 4 eyes or grandma.

224 E. 98^th St.

In late 1927 or early 1928 Mr. Thomas Haverty, the owner of the plumbing company daddy worked for, passed away and the plumbing company was liquidated. One of my parents' good friends were Roy and Anis Alters and their family. He was employed by Haverty Co. Too. They lived in Los Angeles at 92^nd and San Pedro. He and daddy were unemployed now so they formed a partnership in the plumbing business. They called their business "A.M. Plumbing" and their motto was "We Mean Early." We moved to 224 E. 98^th St., Los Angeles in 1928 in the summer, just 6 blocks from the Alters home. Our home was a big 2 story, 3 bedrooms and large hall upstairs and mother used the room at the far end of the stairs for a sewing room and we girls shared 1 bedroom and Danny had his own room. The folks bedroom downstairs. We had a large living room, dining room, kitchen, service porch and bathroom. A front porch that ran clear across the house.

There was a Public Library at 180^th and Main St. and mother, having been a school teacher in Iowa, hustled us all down to the library and got us all library cards and from then on we made regular trips every week or two for more books. I still love to read - books are such good friends and such a fun way to visit far away places, the people and their way of life.

At this time Danny was attending David Starr Jordan High School in Watts, but had to transfer to John C. Fremont at 76^th and San Pedro, Los Angeles. We girls were enrolled in 99^th Street Grammar School. We made life long friends in school and in our neighborhood. Heavenly Father has called some of these dear friends home, but some of us are still close and treasure our friendship so much.

Our next door neighbors were Harriet and Gus Roese and their children, Jimmy and Catherine. They were a young couple and their children were real young, Jimmy 3 and Catherine 1 year. They became like family to us. We girls babysat the children and loved them dearly. Harriet got real sick with the flu and we girls and mother took over caring for all of them. We girls even did baby wash. Hung dirty diapers on fence and hosed them off with the garden hose before washing them. If an angel ever lived on this earth it was Harriet. She set such a good example for us. I never heard her complain about anything. They were struggling financially and many nights when our family finished dinner, we took the food over to Harriet and Gus and family so they had dinner too - strange how mother always seemed to fix enough dinner for all of us. Gus was a truck driver and when he wasn't on the road he went out to the desert prospecting for gold but never found a good dig. One day he came home with his big truck loaded and on his way to the harbor to unload. He took Willa and I with him and how thrilled we were to get to ride in his big rig.

Harriet took Will and I to Primary along with her little ones. This is where my Gospel testimony really started. Learning about the three degrees of glory. Our lives after our sojourn on this earth - that if we live worthily we can be united with our families - this had a big impact on this little girl, Marjorie - who lost her mother at 14 months of age - that I could meet and get to know my mother - to know that Heavenly Father had restored his gospel to the earth again through a Prophet, Joseph Smith. This true church has so much more than any of the other church's I had attended. I shall always be grateful for "Dear Harriet."

We spent many wonderful hours, and years too, with Harriet and Gus and Jimmy and Catherine. Jimmy wanted to go to school with us girls but Catherine loved our brother Dan and she decided she'd go to high school with him. The children loved to come over to our house, they called mother and daddy "Lard's." Mother had a huge cookie jar and she kept it full of home baked cookies and all the little ones knew where "Lard's" cookie jar was and headed right for it. Harriet's family lived in Utah - her parents came down real often and brought us all those delicious Red apples. One of them could make your whole house smell heavenly. They were wonderful people and we enjoyed our get together's with all of them. At this time Herbert Hoover was our president.

Gus's mother (everyone called her Ma Roese) had a hamburger stand at Hermosa Beach right on the strand. In the summer Harriet would go down to help Ma for 3 or 4 days a week and she would take us girls and we'd babysit Jimmy and Catherine out on the beach and sometimes we'd help in the stand. It was neat to babysit and get a sun tan at the same time. We had fun and at the same time it helped Harriet and Ma Roese, who was a dear too!

In the long summer evenings we'd all play, run sheep run, hide and seek, and kick the can. We also played softball or 3 flies up. We also loved to roller skate down San Pedro St. because it was paved - so smooth.

Willa and I had many friends at school but June Oxburg, Betty Peterson, Margaret Clark and us have been life long friends since 1928. In High School we met Henrietta Freconnet and all of us have visited back and forth through graduation from H.S., raising our families, and becoming grandparents and some of us great grandparents. Heavenly Father has called June, Margaret and Willa home, but the three of us are still close.

Grammer School Grads

I always enjoyed school. Math and History were my favorite subjects. I really had to work hard to get good grades in English - Spelling was easy. One day going out for Physical Education I got hit in the mouth with a ball bat - OUCH!! I loved being in school plays. Memorizing lines came easy for me. We did at least one play a year. The year I was in the 7th grade I got to work in the school cafeteria. It was really fun and we got our lunch free. In the 8th grade I took sewing and made the dress and jacket that I wore for graduation on June 19, 1931. We neighborhood kids walked to and from school together - probably ½ mile or so.

My Dad kept up on what ships were docking at the harbor and one day the "U.S.S. Constitution" or "Old Ironsides" was in port and it was open for visitors. Daddy had contributed pennies for the refurbishing of Old Ironsides when he was in grammar school so he took all our family to the harbor and we got to tour this historical ship. It was a 44 gun frigate. Launched in 1797. It is probably the most famous U.S. Naval vessel - Won a battle on 8-19-1812 against the British. It was restored extensively in 1925 by public donations. Boston is it's home port.

After Charles Lindbergh made his non-stop solo flight from New York to Paris, France in 1927, he came to Los Angeles and Daddy took us to the Coliseum where the parade ended and "Lucky Lindy" was interviewed and given a key to the city. His flight was the first of its kind in the world.

School play costume

Mother taught we girls to cook and bake. She said I was a better cake baker than her and lots of times after school she'd ask me to make a cake and I'd bargain with her - I'd make the cake and she'd watch it bake so I could go out and play.

In 1930 - if I remember correctly - mother and daddy had a bad argument one evening and the next day mother packed her things and Willa's things and they left dad, Dan and I. For several weeks I kept house, laundry, etc. stopped at the store on my way home from school for things for dinner. Daddy advertised for a housekeeper and Mrs. Schotz was hired. While she was with us she helped me make a costume for a school play. That summer Eloise Shearers and I went up to Sierra Madre and stayed with Grandpa. We hiked up the trail to Mt. Wilson and went swimming in the Sierra Madre pool - it was made by damming a small river. The shallow end was where the water flowed in and the deep end at the far end where the water flowed out. It was so pretty there in the canyon and the water was so cold, brrr!! When grandpa was younger he took my brother up to the pool and taught him to swim. Let's back up a little.

In 1926, if I remember correctly, Mother sued daddy for divorce. Daddy, Dan and I went to court and met mother and Willa there. We all talked a lot and we girls cried a lot and before it was over everyone made up and in a few weeks mother and Willa were back home and before long life was back to normal.

Mother and Willa came back home again after a few months away in 1930. I had an attack of shingles around my chest and back that were very, very painful and the pain lasted off and on for many years and ended my piano lessons.

We had another younger couple move into our neighborhood just 4 doors from us. Wallace and Billie McLyman. Our families became real friends. Their little girl Betty Jane was born April 1, 1931. We helped Billie with housework and tending Betty - Wally worked for the City of Los Angeles. He was also a veteran of WWI and belonged to the Vets - American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps - he played base drum. Billie was very pretty and petite. We spent may happy hours at their home and they in ours. Whenever it was a national holiday or special event Wally and the Drum and Bugle Corps would march and play in the parades, sometimes 2 in one day. He and Billie would take Willa and I with them and we would have good spectator seats. We even went to the Shrine Auditorium for a performance with them. Billie had a brother Tom, he was on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington, he was so good looking and I had a real crush on him. Whenever he and his friend Bill had shore leave they spent it at McLymans - sigh!!!

Wally and Billy would take us girls and go over to the Los Angeles River. It was sandy and like the beach and always some water in it. We'd build a fire and roast wieners and marshmallows and Betty Jane loved playing in the sand and getting her feet wet in the river. I don't remember the make of car they had but it had a rumble seat and it was such fun to ride in. We went to the Fun House in Venice and had a ball.

Mother's uncle Alex passed away up in Sacramento and she and Daddy drove up for the funeral. Bad storms going and coming home. I remember kneeling by my bedroom window the night they were driving home, watching it rain and praying that Heavenly Father would see them safely home.

When Billie got pregnant with Sonny, her health wasn't too good and by the time the depression had caught up with our family - so Wally would get a big roast and bring to our house and mother would cook it and supply the rest of the dinner and they would come and have dinner at our house until Sonny was born, May 25, 1932. One day when I was doing the washing at Billies I had a real scare. The dress I was wearing had a bow at the neck and when I reached across the wringer the bow caught in it and tore my dress before I got it turned off.

Wally was working on his car one day. He had it up on blocks. He was working underneath and the car slipped a pinned him underneath. We know Heavenly Father is never far away and he came to dad, Willa, Billie and I were able to lift the car enough to free him.

The American Legion had a three day convention over in Pasadena. Billie and Wally went and left Willa and I to care for Betty and Sonny.

Billie also had to have surgery and we girls took care of the kids and Billie too when she came home from the hospital.

When my brother Daniel got married we girls didn't have formals to wear, so Billie loaned us each one of hers. I remember mine was pale green print chiffon with a wide collar. Willa's was peach chiffon with a ruffle at the neck. Willa and I thought and felt so grown up. Daddy baked and decorated Dan and LaVer's wedding cake. They were married in the back yard of Laver's home. They had lights all over the yard and a little alter where their Bishop married them. It was really beautiful. Their wedding date was May 16, 1934.

Let's go back to Sept. , 1931 when June, Betty, Margaret and I and all our 8th grade grammar school graduation class started school at John C. Fremont High School. Talk about a scared and overwhelmed group it was us. My first year of high school was my brothers senior year. Danny drove us all to school that first year and after he graduated in summer of 1932 Mr. Oxberg, June's dad and my dad took turns driving us to school, ball games, track meets, etc. My brother wasn't heavy enough for varsity football but he played on the B-team. I don't think I missed many football games and track meets all through school. I would usually wind up with no voice over the week end from yelling so hard for our team.

Danny's First Ford

My brother worked with my dad plumbing, then in the gas station at 99th and San Pedro Street where he earned the money for his first car in 1930. A green Ford coupe - I don't know the year it was. Someone who had it before him had lowered the roof. It was real neat. He took me to Sunday School one morning and it was raining and when he went to turn the corner we spun around like a top - He also had 2 L.A. Examiner paper routes and on Sunday the papers were so big and heavy my dad would drive for him. His senior year, 1931-1932, he got a Dodge touring car. In 1931 he also started driving truck for Purex Co. (Gus Roese got him this job). One week he went up to Sacramento and the next week to San Diego delivering bleach. He had a scary trip home from Sacramento one time when the brakes went out on the truck as he was coming down the Grape Vine from Bakersfield.

He was so thankful he was on the mountain side of the road- he had to drag the bed of his truck along the mountain to slow him down and enable him to stop. Danny was so good to us girls - when babysitting jobs were slow he would give us money for the show and popcorn and candy. The admission to the show was .10 cents and .05 cents for popcorn. That seems cheap for a movie but when you got only .50 cents babysitting till midnight that would be .25 cents each for Willa and I. One summer Willa and I baby sat twin girls and their brother all day - 7 AM to 5 PM - fixing them breakfast, lunch and cleaning up the kitchen for .50 cents a day. We'd each have $1.25 at the end of each week - which was a lot for these were depression days when bread was .08 cents a loaf, stamps were .02 cents, gasoline was .12 cents a gallon and one of the big grocery stores would give you a penny when you checked out so you could go across the street to the other market and get your milk with the penny - they said they couldn't afford to handle the milk.

My brother graduated from high school in June 1932 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president in November 1932, his first term in office.

By Christmas 1932 our parents were really feeling the effects of the depression. I remember mother made Willa and I each aprons out of flour sacks and embroidered them - in these days you bought your flour in 100 lb. bags made of material like unbleached muslin and when you washed them, the company printing came off and you had a real nice piece of material 40 or so inches square and we each got a sweater blouse that retailed at that time for .59¢.

Our home was filled with the true "Sprit of Christmas". We all had so much to be thankful for. Our family was together and grandpa D.J. Millard, Aunt Wanita, Uncle Forrest and Margerite Brewer were with us. We were all in good health, had a lovely warm house, good friends and neighbors - Mother fixed a scrumptious dinner, we had a beautiful tree and in the evening we all stood around the piano as mother played and we all sang Christmas Carols with our friends, neighbors and loved ones. This is the traditional way all our Christmas days ended.

Mother always made our birthday specially "Our Day." She said this is the one day in the year that was "ours" alone. When we were growing up we always had a part and when we were older a special dinner with our best friends and family. This is a tradition I have carried on with our children and when mother got older my husband and I made our home the gathering place for family and friends at all the holidays through the year.

I guess I'd better back track to starting high school in September 1931. John Fremont High School, 76^th and San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, Pathfinders, and the school motto was "Find a way or make one." I took: Secretarial course B⁹ and A⁹ and music appreciation 1 semester; 1 year of clothing; 1 year Social Studies; 1 year English (a dream teacher, Mrs. Culyhouse - helped me so much - got a B); Algebra 1 year (good teacher too) and the fun class Gym - all four years B¹⁰ and A¹⁰; Typing I & II 1 year; English 1 year; Biology 1 year; Bookkeeping 1 year (more later on this super teacher); Home Nursing 1 semester; B¹¹ Shorthand I, Typing III, English (Am. Lit.); U.S. History and Civics I; Salesmanship; A¹¹ Typing IV; A¹¹ English (Passed A¹¹ English exam and didn't have to take 12^th grade Eng); History and Civics II; Shorthand II; and Business Organization, B¹² Shorthand III; Office Practice I; Business Correspondence; Economic Geography; A¹² Shorthand IV, Office Practice II; Law, A¹² Art Appreciation.

These were good years, lots of good times, scary times, and even sad times too.

We had our neighbor friends, June, Margaret, Betty, Dorothy, and I plus one 8th grade graduation class so we weren't alone when we started this big adventure. It did take some getting used to coming from grammar school where you spent the whole day in one classroom and then trying to find your way around on a big campus where each class is in a different room and sometimes in a different building, but by the end of the ninth grade we were veterans. We had some classes with old friends and made many new ones that we have stayed in touch with through the years

I had a lot of wonderful teachers, but my 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Culvyhouse was real special. She helped me learn the parts of speech and to use them correctly and we memorized lots of poetry that we had to stand and recite our favorite one and thus I learned to love poetry and it helped me over my shyness.

Another special teacher was my 10th grade bookkeeping teacher Mr. Misner. We kids called my friend Betty Peterson "Pete" and he named us "Pete and Repeat." He taught us how we should dress and about wearing too much makeup in an office in the business world and he promised he would not give homework on the weekends if none of the girls wore too much makeup to class. Our class was the first period after lunch and the boys in the class stationed themselves at both doors to check makeup so there would be no weekend homework. This bookkeeping helped me so much to budget and making payments on things after I was married and on my job in the cleaning shop and jewelry and health food store when my kids were in school.

My shorthand teacher, Mr. Bawer, nick named me Millie. Some of the kids called me "Tiny, PeeWee Marge or Margie."

Fun times came twice or maybe three times a day every year during Gym. We'd hurry and dress and run around the track hoping some of the guys would come join us - the girls gym was at one end of the track and the boys at the other end - so the possibility was good. You probably can't believe it, but our first year in gym we had to wear white blouses and gym "bloomers", they had to come down to our knees with elastic at the knees. (I got hysterical when I think about this.) By our second year we got to wear shorts - I wish I had a picture in our bloomers - but didn't get an annual till the 11th grade. For all four years we played volleyball and basket ball. During the fall and the spring it was basketball and field hockey with callisthenics once a week - more often if it rained. We had nice showers with a dressing room, shower dressing room. One girl to each dressing room and we shared the one shower between. The teachers checked each day to be sure everyone showered and of course our gym clothes went home each Friday to be laundered and returned clean on Monday. It was fun and I didn't do too bad, I always pulled B grades each year.

Lunch time was another fun time. In the 9th grade, 1931-32, it was June, Betty, Margaret and I comprising our lunch gang. Then in 1932-33 we added Henrietta, Antonette, Doris, Trudy, Leah, Margurite and Louise, Jean, Willa and Ruby. We'd swap lunch morsels, discuss how our day was going and if it was Monday it was what we'd done over the weekend and our favorite movie and boys or radio program, or crooner or boys or big band and of course a little politics. I think the favorite thing to do was pull out a few grey hairs in my black hair.

The other fun thing we did almost every day on our way home from school, June, Willa, Betty and I would walk over to Manchester and Broadway to the Kress Dime Store and we'd each buy a different kind of peanuts or candy to share and munch on our way home.

We spent a lot of afternoons at June's house. Her mom and dad were Finnish. Her mom made a Finnish round flat bread that we all loved. We played cards (Hearts) at her house and her mom would play with us too. Her parents belonged to a Finnish club and they would take us girls with them and we learned to dance the Shadish and Polka which was lots of fun. This is beside the point but Willa had a gift for setting hair and she did this for June and her mom. She gave up on my hair, it was so straight, I finally had my first perm in the fall of 1932 - what price for beauty - in those days the big overhead machines that did the curling were so hot and heavy --(lots of burned ear tips - nothing like today).

One of the scariest things to happen in any of us kids lives was the big Long Beach earth quake on March 10, 1933. We had been to a track meet at school and our bleachers were full of kids. (Heavenly Father sure looks after young people) if the quake had happened an hour before it did, there would have been lots of injured people. Willa and I had just gotten home a few minutes before it struck and we were on our way to the corner store for a loaf of bread, needless to say we never made it to the store - we headed for home as fast as we could. Mother was visiting in South Gate and Danny was driving along Broadway just Willa, Dad and I were home. We were about 12 or 15 miles inland from Long Beach, the center of the quake, where parts of that city were demolished and 120 people were killed. The quake didn't stop with that one big jolt but every minute or two there was another tremor, Henrietta said they made a chart and kept track and there was over a thousand aftershocks that night. My Dad was such a calm, reassuring person that half of the neighborhood were on our porch and lawn most of the night and there was no way we girls were going upstairs to bed. The tremors lasted a couple of weeks and all our schools were closed until they could all be inspected thoroughly before anyone could go back into them. We had a beautiful big auditorium at Fremont with a balcony - it was condemned because the balcony was cracked clear around and there was no way it could be repaired and it was never used again. When the schools were declared safe for occupancy again, mother told dad not to let any of us girls into school rooms until he had inspected them and as we were going out the door that morning Willa called back to mother "Good Bye, we may never see you again", of course this was all mother needed to calm her nerves - it wasn't long though and we were settled back in the groove and life back to normal.

I think two of my classes I enjoyed the most in the 10th grade were bookkeeping and biology, specially A10 biology the study of human life. Girls Home Nursing was great too, I learned so much there that helped me in caring for my children and parents during sick spells and about keeping ourselves morally clean. Mrs. Smith, our teacher, really taught these things straight out. She had been a nurse during W.W.I and knew so much from her real live experiences and answered our questions truthfully and fully. She also taught the boys first aid and I'm sure she taught them the same code of morals.

Along came June 22, 1933 - schools out and summer fun begins.

Our friend June, Willa and I went up to Sierra Madre to spend a couple of weeks at Grandpa Millards'. His downstairs wasn't rented so we girls slept down there and ate our meals with grandpa. We enjoyed hiking up in the canyon and going to the park, the police dept. and inspecting the jail, also visiting the fire station where they showed us their living quarters upstairs and let us slide down the pole they used to answer fire alarms.

Grandpa and some townsmen formed a little group and played in the park and in church halls in the evenings; we would go with him and how we loved it when he would put down his guitar and dance with us. He danced the old fashioned waltz and you felt like you were in another world. There was also a boy living across the street and his friends spend a lot of time over there too - so naturally we met them and started going hiking with them even driving into the upper canyons. June liked Andy and Willa and I liked the twins, Ralph and Ray. We were all sitting out under the big pepper tree in Grandpa's back yard talking and it got friendlier, pretty soon arms around shoulders and eventually a little kiss. This led to a game - Willa went in the house and got a clock and we proceeded to set the clock and see who could hold the longest kiss. Sweet sixteen is such a good age. I think - no, I know - looking back as an adult now - the worst thing we ever did was tell Grandpa after dinner that we were so tired that we were going downstairs and to go bed. After a while we girls climbed out the window, met the boys in front and went riding around over to Pasadena, by the Rose Bowl, to La Canada, stopped for malts and returned home and had to climb back in the window. (I shudder now to thing what a terrible thing it would have been if we'd had an accident. We had no identification and Grandpa had no idea where we were - God does bless us so much - even when we do foolish things.)

Our parents let us keep dating these boys after we got home. Our dates were a show, popcorn and home. These boys had to drive about 35 miles each way and we made our dates by mail. It was such fun - first dating.

September came and with it school. I began my Junior year along with all our friends and all our old ritual. We continued dating the boys until September 5. June's mom got a phone call that Andy was injured in an accident where they were doing road work and nobody put up warning lights that night Andy was going home from work. He lived only 2 days. My folks took June, Willa and I to Sierra Madre for the funeral. Ray and Ralph's parents were concerned then about them driving so far to our home so that stopped our long distance dating.

By the time President Roosevelt was inaugurated 3-4-'33. Our country was in the 4^th year of the depression. The stock market failed in 1929 and real panic and many people committed suicide for they had lost everything - Banks started closing and on March 9th, 1933 the president declared a nationwide bank holiday and closed all banks and 4 days later sound banks resumed business. I lost my school savings account. A whole $4.18 during the time and my Dad lost a lot, as many of the people he did plumbing for paid him by check and so he was considered a depositor in the banks the checks were drawn on. Unemployment reached 12,000,000 by this time. In his inaugural address, F.D.R. assured people "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." To get the economy moving, the President started his "New Deal" with C.C.C. Camps and the W.P.A. The C.C.C. was the "Civilian Conservation Corp." run by the U. S. Government from 1933 to 1942 - it provided work for single men from 18 to 25 years old and at the same time conserved our forests and soil resources. 3 million men were employed during these 9 years. They were paid $1.00 a day, plus food, shelter and clothing. They learned mechanical and engineering skills. Under the supervision of the War Department they planted trees, fought forest fires, built roads, bridges, dams and constructed state parks and water systems. This corps was ended in 1943 after the start of the 2nd World War as men were needed in the armed forces. The W.P.A. or Work Project Administration was another special project devised to employ both skilled and unskilled workers and professional persons. It was a vast program of works: construction of public buildings, highways, dams, and similar projects. There were also vast vegetable gardens to help provide food for workers and their families. In 1934, in the fall, my Dad worked in the W.P.A. gardens - there was no pay, but credit for hours worked and you got your vegetables and could get food staples at the warehouse. Betty missed school one day; her family had no bread for lunches. Dad and I traded flour and sugar to her mom for home baked bread. I think the one good that came from the depression years was the drawing of families, friends and neighbors together - sharing and helping each other wherever we could.

September 1933 was the start of my Junior year in high school. There were 4,000 students enrolled this year, making us the largest school in the Western United States. Our football team was super this year, they were "City Champs." They played in the "Football Carnival", Nov. 29th at the L.A. Coliseum - what a great game and no voice over the week end again.

With the holidays coming up there was much excitement in the girls gum. Donations of toys for different ages, cosmetics for teen girls, assorted items for teen boys and lots of donated food products. During gym we girls were given a family list with the ages of the children in the family and we chose items for each child, then they went to the cafeteria which was filled with Fremonts contributions for Los Angeles poor for Christmas. This was so great.

Family tradition prevailed and all the family gathered at our house for Christmas. Mother had a scrumptious dinner, as usual, our tree was beautiful, gifts few, but the "sprit" was there in rich abundance and the day ended with mother playing the piano and all of us gathered round to sing carols. We had so much to be thankful for - warm homes, good food, clothing and good health and the freedoms we enjoy in this great country.

We all were looking forward to New Years day and a trip to Pasadena for the "Rose Parade." We'd had a couple of rainy days but hoped for a sunny parade - turned out to be wishful thinking. The rain came down by the buckets and the parade was shortened. Lots of people along the shortened parade route rented their lawns so you could park your car and view the parade. The poor band people and drill teams were drenched as were many of the riders on the floats. Several of the participants became ill afterward and 2 of them died of the exposure.

January 2nd was another day of vacation as schools were closed by the Board of Education because of flooding. After these exciting holidays school seemed dull and hard to get back into good study habits, but the semester was drawing to an end and there were finals coming up so time to hit the books. American Lit and English, U.S. History and Civics, Salesman ships, Shorthand and Typing were my classes this semester. Typing itself was easy but getting my speed up was hard as I didn't have a typewriter to practice on at home, so this kept my grade at a D-. I did O.K. in my other classes; 3 B's and 2 C's, so I made it into the A11 on February 2, 1934. New semester starts on Monday.

I need to back track a little. November of 1933 I met a new fellow, Charles Estell at McLymans, he was in the Navy and McLymans seemed to be "a home away from home" for these young sailors. Whenever he had "shore leave" we'd have a date - usually a show at our neighborhood show house. On Armistice day we went to 2 parades which was fun. Wally McLyman played base drum in both parades (Veterans Drum and Bugle Corps) and there was a barbecue for participants and their families and games, sack races and even a greased pole climbing contest. When you date someone in the service you write a lot of letters. Charles's ship left for the east coast just before Christmas. He was stationed back there and in the Panama Canal Zone. Meantime, I was in school and writing letters again. Then end of March or the first of April I picked up a "bug" somewhere and ran a low grade fever for about 6 weeks. They wouldn't let me back in school so every Monday I went to the nurses office, she'd check my temperature and send me back home. I'd go to my English and History and Civics classes and get my assignments for the coming week and turn in homework from the previous week. Without a typewriter at home to practice and get my speed up my typing, shorthand and business org. classes suffered. I did wind up with passing grades - and on the 19th of May I had tonsils and adenoids out and by June 2nd I had a clean bill of health and back in school.

The "main event" for our family was the wedding of Dan and LeVer on May 16th 1933. As I've mentioned before - at school it was the "Big Broadcast" - the public address system had been completed and now furnished music while Tremontians "dream and eat" at lunch period in the quadrangle.

Finals will be starting soon and we'll all be cramming, especially in English, for if we pass the A11 exam we won't have to take 12th grade English - so burn the midnight oil!

Mother had received several letters from friends and neighbors of Grandpa Armstrong that he isn't doing well and needs some help in his home. She and Daddy talked it over and decided when school is out this month we will move back to our house in South Gate and she and Willa will go back to Iowa to care for Grandpa and daddy and I will stay here in South Gate so I can finish school - I want to graduate with my class.

Finals are over and school is out - Summer's here and I'm a senior - Great!

At home, it's busy preparing for our move back to our home in South Gate - Everyone is busy packing [their] own things - where did I get all this "stuff"? It must have been important or a special "keepsake." When we gorls finish with our things mother can use some help with dishes, pots & pans and "what nots".

Dan has come over to help load the truck here and unload in South Gate.

What a day!!! All our stuff is moved - now comes the fun of putting it away. First thing is putting our clothes away - shelf paper in cupboards and help mother get the kitchen in order. Then beds to make - windows to wash and & curtains to hang, rugs to lay and vacuum, bathroom to clean - I don't ever want to move again.

Mother has finally got everything "ship shape," Home Sweet Home - there is only one thing wrong, mother & Willa will be leaving for Iowa in a few days and daddy and I will be on our own. It's really going to be kinda strange and lonesome but necessary.

Our old friends Billie & Wally called and asked if I was still going to baby sit their children while they go to the American Legion Convention, daddy said yes and that he would come over in the evening and stay overnight with us. While I was over there the "Fleet" came back to San Pedro & Charlie had five days shore leave before they would be leaving for Bremerton, Washington. We took in a couple "shows" and just visited. It's back to letter writing.

It wasn't long after we went back home that the "school bells" started ringing and I'm on the last lap - "A Senior B". Daddy will take me to school and I'll walk home with the gang and dad will pick me up at Betty's house after school.

After daddy took me to school he went home and then to the WPA gardens to work, earning credit to trade for foods. Some od the neightbors in our neightborhood would get together twice a month at different homes and play cards and later have refreshments. Daddy and I attended a couple of these get-togethers.

I know dad was missing mother and from mothers letters she really needed dads help with grandpa and things around the house.

One Sunday when Dan & LaVer came over daddy told then about mother's letter and he and I had talked it over and I felt daddy should go back there and help mother. Dad asked them if they would like to move in with me rent free so I could stay in school. They said yes and right after Thanksgiving dad left for Iowa and I lived with Dan & LaVer in their apartment until after Christmas and then Dan & LaVer moved in with me. Danny would drop me off at school on his way to work and picked me up at Betty's on his way home. I missed my dad but was glad too, for I was able to go to mutual on Tuesdays and church on Sunday. Manchester ward. This arrangement worked real well.

At school their selling all kinds of "sweets" to raise money for the "Christmas Fund." Next comes again making or rather packing Christmas boxes with food and toys. This year a hundred needy families' Christmas was made happier by our school. We had a great musical program given in the gym, Friday December 14, and then it was 2 weeks "Christmas Vacation." We returned to school Monday December 31, 1934. Senior A's got their caps and gowns amid groans and secretly feelings of joy. Tuesday January 1, 1935, no school, happy New Year. January 2nd back to school dancing and merriment reign as senior A's have their second senior A. Party. Friday is the annual basketball game between senior A's and B's - of course the B's will win - we hope. January 3rd four senior A's chosen today to speak at their graduation in a few weeks.

Hey it's Friday and yes the final score of the basketball game senior A's 12 and B's 13 - we did it.

The halls are full [of] posters shouting about the coming circus - we can hardly wait for the 18^th to get here.

Monday the 14^th of January was recognition day fit the senior A's they look great in their white and blue and we senior B's can't wait. It's Friday and circus day - we did shiver. Laughed to much, ate to many hot dogs and peanuts - what an afternoon. On Monday the 21^st Doc. Skinner announced the time to announce candidacy for league and student body office. Friday we began program signing for our "summer term" as we said our good-byes to our friends. (342) Winter '35 Class

Al Stephens was elected president of our Summer '35 class. They have just discovered there are 3,878 students in our school. New students were welcomed by the "George Washington League Party."

By living in S. G. I miss some of the activities in the evenings - but that's ok - as I've said before because I get to go to mutual and that's so great for me. The best even in Feb, 1935 was Danny was baptized.

March 14 is going to be our Senior A - recognition day - as we got our new "White Sweaters" with their S:35 patch - there will be a dance at Casino tonight but I won't be there. Our sweaters are great - mine has a zipper instead of buttons and button holes - love it.

Bleacher call this week - time to order your 1935 Fremontian - will be ready June 13th.

You should have seen the April 1st edition of our school paper the "Pathfinder". This issue called the "Sapgrinder" it is uproarious - and clear and was being read in every class. Happy April Fool edition. I'll sure save this forever.

Monday, 8 April Senior A's will wear white caps and gowns for graduation on June 19^th. Friday, April 12^th will be last day of school 'til April 22 - Easter vacation. At noon, May 1st, the Senior Ayes held the annual baseball game. Final score 13 and B's 9. Tuesday, May 7 - was a fashion show and music by the Treble Clefs for the Senior A's and mothers. LaVer went with me. The mothers said they were treated royally. June 13^th, Student Body elections and annuals are out today. Tomorrow Senior grades out by noon - did we all burn enough midnight oil.

My good news my Dad and Sis' boyfriend will be here any day now. This is the best gift I could have. Our graduating class had nearly 150 awards for citizenship, scholarship, character, honor and services. Highest honors of the day went to Mary Edith Dunn and Albert Lee Stephens. Sr. Ayes President (See newspaper clipping).

Dad and Kenny have arrived and it's so good to see my Dad - It's been about 7 months - thanks Mother for sending them - Dad and Kenny. We were happy to meet Kenny and spent hours catching up on the news from Iowa and they catching up with things here at home.

We went up to Sierra Madre to visit Grandpa and of course he was glad to see us all but especially glad to see Daddy - this was probably the longest time they had been apart. We also sent over to Eagle Rock to see Aunt Wanita, Uncle Forest, and Marguerite and visit with them.

The 19^th of June is coming up fast and Daddy wants to take me shopping. I guess he and Mother talked it over before he came home that I should have a new dress and shoes - so that's why we're shopping - we're through - I have a beautiful new dress for graduation and great looking new shoes.

The big day is drawing near - June 19^th 5PM is only 8 days away. Daddy got a letter from school dated June 11, 1935 explaining that our class wisely decided to wear cap and gowns for our gradation thus eliminating the need for new suits or dresses. They'll cost $1.50 and a $1.00 deposit which will be given back when we return the cap and Gown at the conclusion of graduation. There were 9 of us who graduated from 99th St. Grammar school - 8th grade. I didn't need to buy a formal for our Prom as I made my own. It's white organdy with a pink satin ribbon sash - note picture. This was quite an emotional evening - I'm so glad my Daddy was able to be there and I received a great card and message from Mother & Willa & Dan & LaVer & Kenny were there too. Later in the evening June's parents took us out to this boat (see picture) for dinner and it was fun to walk around and watch the people playing the different games and the food was extra great and the floor show was very nice.

Friday A.M. LaVer and I packed a picnic lunch and Dad, Kenny, LaVer and I headed for the beach (Hermosa). It was a great day - not too hot and the surf was great and I think this was Kenny's first trip to California.

We went to a show over the weekend and over to Billie, Wally and children and then Daddy announced that all good things have to come to an end so he and Kenny packed up and in the A.M. they headed for Iowa. They were going to stop off and say goodbye to Grandpa Millard and I know Mother will be glad to see them.

With graduation behind me and my diploma in had and my parents in Iowa caring for Mothers' father - it's time for me to think about getting a job - and jobs are scarcer then hens teeth in the depth of the depression.

I am blessed though. My brothers best friend Tom and his wife told Danny that her mother, Mrs. Ashton, needed live in help. Dan and LaVer took me out to meet them and they hired me. I started work for $5.00 a month and my room and board. My main job was to be a "Nanny" for their little boy Sonny and help Mrs. Ashton with meals, housework, etc.

Sonny was a cute little boy - 3½ years old. The little boy next door was older than Sonny and wasn't very nice to him and I still being a minor at 17 years got after him real good and he and Sonny became good friends.

The first morning I was at "Ashtons" about 10AM the back door bell rang and there stood the greatest, handsomest, be still my heart, "guy" - red hair and all. Be still my heart and let him in. Mrs. Ashton introduced us. His name is Al and he was from "Bob's Market" where she gets her groceries. He comes every morning and gets her grocery order and delivers them in the afternoon. Great!!

It's funny how I got to looking forward to the AM grocery order time and the PM deliver. Al always had a great smile, his beautiful red hair never had a hair out of place and he was always singing. On week days he worked 7AM to 7PM and on Saturday, 7AM to 9PM. He had a Model T Ford Touring car with no top. When he finally got around to asking me for a date he would go home and clean up then come pick me up in his parents car.

On a week night date we could usually make it to the theater in time for the second show and never missed a musical with "Fred Astair" and "Ginger Rogers". Here are some of these great musicals "Flying Down to Rio," "Roberta," "Top Hat," "The Gay Divorce," and we would walk out of the theatre singing the great songs from these movies. Al would take me home and walk me to the door and he'd go back to the car. I'd listen and sure enough he was so tired he'd fall asleep. I'd grab a robe and go wake him and send him home.

Sometimes on a Saturday date night we'd go over to Al's brother, Edwin and his wife Helen, and visit or to my brother Daniel and his wife LaVer. One Saturday night I intended to stay overnight at Dan and Laver's after our date, but when we got there they weren't home and I had no key to their house and non to Ashton's either - what to do??? So --- went back to Al's house and

I met his Mom and Dad, his Dad was a milk man and was getting ready (1AM) to leave for work at his mother lent me a night gown and we spent the night together and talked almost all night. His parents were so good to me, but I was so embarrassed.

If Mr. and Mrs. Ashton were going out on the weekend they would OK it for Al to spend the evening with Sonny and me. We'd play games with Sonny and I'd pop popcorn - just a fun evening. If we could find some good dance music we'd dance there in the living room.

Sometimes on a Saturday evening, especially if Al didn't get out of the store on time, we'd get a snack and drive up in the Garvey Hills where you could see city lights all over the valley. We'd been there quite awhile and someone in the neighborhood got leary of the car parked there so they called the police - and were we surprised. The officer was real nice - so after that if we just wanted to talk we parked in the Neese driveway.

By this time Al was picking me up on his way home from work and we'd be singing al the top of our lungs. Al's mother said she could hear us singing before we ever got to their house. Al would clean up and change clothes and us his parents "Pontiac Coup" for our dates. Doing things on dates was fun but just being together was best of all.

One morning Mrs. Ashton and I decided to switch two of the bedrooms, we had most of the small stuff moved and when Al came for our grocery order we talked him into helping us move the big things. He came back in the evening to visit Mr. and Mrs. Ashton and I and we discovered what a small world this is. When Mr. Ashton was young and single he had roomed at my Grandparents, Daniel and Anna Millard in Sierra Madre.

On Vermont Ave. in Los Angeles there were what they called "Clubs". They had food, soft drinks and beer. Also, a small dance floor and a small band, and slot machines called "One arm bandits". You could have a snack, dance and play the slot machines. We'd have a snack and dance. We also watched people play the slots and one time I asked Al for money to play the slots for I thought they were ready to pay off and several different times they did. We started a bank with this money and when we got married we had enough to buy our posts and pans, silverware and frying pan set. (remember these were depression days, 1935. Al was earning $20.00 per 6 day week (74 hours) and I started at $5.00 with room and board and I got a raise to $10.00 + room and board.

On a beautiful Sunday Al took me to Aunt Wanita and Uncle Forests in Eagle Rock. I wanted him to meet them since my parents were back in Iowa. We also went up to Sierra Madre to see Grandpa Millard and visit a while with him too.

We visited these "Clubs" several more times and added a little more money to our "Bank". Al was such fun to be with and a couple times was asked to sing with the bands.

On another Sunday drive he took me to meet 2 of his old girl friends and their families. I never did ask him why he did this - when we went back to his house and told his parents where we had been his Dad said, "Well you have the best girl here".

On Sunday, to be exact, Nov. 3, 1935 Al picked me up and we went into Los Angeles to Olvera St. where we walked around enjoying their displays and Al bought me a souvenir and then we drove down o Ocean Park, walked around the Pike and road the Merry-go-round - having fun (we will never be too old to ride the merry-go-round). On our way home we stopped in "Old China Town" for dinner (the R.R. Depot is there now). At this time Al wasn't real fond of Chinese food, but he knew how I liked it. We enjoyed our dinner - our conversation was kinda serious. We finished and went back to the car - Al was still kinda serious and on this Sunday, Nov. 3, 1935 he proposed there in the car and I said "Yes".

We drove back to his house to tell his mom and dad who were very happy for us. When he took me home we told Mr. and Mrs. Ashton they congratulated us. Mrs. Ashton told Al he knew what he was getting for he had seen me at my worst and best.

Later on Al chose June 12, 1936 for our wedding day. I wrote my Dad and Mother, called Dan and LaVer, Edwin and Helen, Ed and Ethel Squires. Called Auntie and Uncle Forrest and Marguerite. Mother and Dad Neese invited Ed and Ethel Squires for Thanksgiving and they invited the four of us for Christmas. (Ed and Ethel and Dad and Mom are life time friends).

One evening Al took me shopping and bought me a Cedar Chest for Christmas and Mother and Dad Neese gave me a darling Bed Side Table Lamp.

We have been spending more evening at Al's house (saving that dating money).

Had a Very "Happy New Year" there too!

After New Year Al watched for (For Rent) signs as he was making his orders and delivery runs each day. On Tuesday Jan. 7, 1936 he found a little house for rent. There was a big house in front of this little house in back, it was furnished and $18.00 per month and he rented it right away and then came and picked me up, headed for L.A., Los Angeles County Court House to get our Marriage License and then over to see Auntie and Uncle Forrest. We told them all our news and Uncle Forrest suggested that Auntie should meet me in Los Angeles the next day so she could sign for our Gas and Lights to be turned on so we wouldn't have to put a deposit down on them.

So, Wednesday I met Auntie and we took care of getting the Gas and Lights tuned on at our home to be at 5217½ Templeton.

This done, Auntie and I went shopping and got me a new blue dress for our wedding. After having some lunch we went to Grants store where Auntie helped me buy some silverware, 3 piece skillet set, and 3 piece set of cooking pans and measuring cup set with the money we had saved. By this time I had more than I could carry and Auntie suggested I come home with her and we'd call Al and he could come and get me after work, which he did.

Thursday evening after Al got off work he picked me up and went over to clean our little house and Al brought some things from the store so we cleaned the refrig and cupboards so we could put them away.

I helped Mrs. Ashton to clean house real good Friday and get all of Sonny's things in good shape and ironed all of his things. Cleaned our bathroom sparkle clean. After all the "chores" were done Sonny and I spent the rest of the day doing the things he wanted to do. Mr. and Mrs. Ashton have been so good to me and I have leaned so many things that will help me be a good mother when the time comes and a good home maker and wife. I'm thankful for the past six months I've had to be a part of their family.

Sonny is down for a nap and I have to run - I have an appointment to get my hair done. While the girl was fixing my hair the topic of their conversation was "Who is Al going to marry". I didn't tell them it was me - I didn't want to embarrass them.

Tomorrow is Jan 12, 1936 - it's up and at 'em time. Auntie and Uncle Forrest will meet us at our house to help us get all moved in. Al will pick me up and we'll meet them there. Here we go and here we come Auntie and Uncle Forrest with their arms full. As we begin to open boxes, Auntie is making soap suds and in the first box is a set of dishes and real pale yellow with spraying flowers around the edges - they are beautiful and into the soap suds, and look at all the canned food and even some drinking glasses. Finally everything is in place, hugs, tears and best wishes are said and Auntie and Uncle Forrest are gone, Al will take me home and he'll go home so we can clean up and he'll come back and get me and we'll go back and see his Mom and Dad and Helen and Edwin will pick us up, take us to the Wedding chapel in Los Angeles, CA where they will be our Best Man and Matron of Honor and Alexander and Marjorie will kneel at the alter and listen as the Rev. Dunn joins us as one.

After the ceremony we went home with Helen and Edwin where Helen had a wonderful dinner for us. Later they took us over to Mother and Dad Neese's and of course there were hugs, kisses and tears and best wishes. Helen and Edwin took us back to our house - the end of a perfect day. not home very long in our quiet little house when we heard what sounded like huge rocks hitting the side of the house. We just ignored the noise and in a few minutes the noise ceased. The next day Al found out it was Eddie Merrifield - one of the guys at work.

Comes the dawn and it was back to work for Al. Just as Al was leaving for work Dad Neese pulled up in his milk truck and brought us milk, butter, eggs and cottage cheese - what a great surprise. This got to be a weekly event until Dad's birthday, Feb. 3, 1936, when one of his milk customers backed out of his driveway pinning Dad against his milk truck, crushing his right leg. They took him to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood. Mother Neese and I rode street cars to the hospital each day and Al picked us up when he got off work. Dad seemed to be doing real good and then he got a blood clot in his lung and was in an oxygen tent for several weeks and for several more weeks after he was out of oxygen tent. He sure had a very long stay in the hospital and we took the little table radio to him to help pass away the time. February is gone, but good news, he gets to come [home] next week.

Al and I are still opening gifts from Bob and Laurel Schbum, Eddie and Ellen Merrifield, John and Ethel Bateman, Bill Blevins, Al Hill and tom and Marian Salisbury, the crew at Bobs El Sereno Market.

Aunt Wanita and Aunt Maude are giving me a shower at Uncle Cecil and Aunt Maudes' home next week. I'm looking forward to seeing some of my Mama's family as well as friends and family.

I'm a little excited this morning. I'll be going to Aunt Maude's for the shower. She and Auntie are giving me - I know I'll see many old friends and dear family members. Need to get busy and get house in order and myself too.

What a great shower! My two Aunts went all out to make this special. Great games, family and friends I hadn't seen for a while. Much Love.

We have an addition to our family - the Neese family cat had kittens and we adopted one of them. Al comes home for lunch every day, which is great, and when we sit our lay down on the couch Kitty jumps up at our feet, then slowly creeps up until she's in our arms. She sure is cute, loves to play with Al's socks.

Today is wash day, and we have no washing machine, so I wash on a washboard in the bathtub and hang them on the clothes line outside - they always smell so good when their dry and I bring them in.

One morning, March 20, 1936 to be exact a salesman comes to our door - he was selling sewing machines - electric Singers - and I could buy it with no money down and $3.00 a week so I finally gave in and bought it ($134.50). When Al came home for lunch he was real upset - he thought I needed a washing machine not a sewing machine- he went out looking for the salesman but didn't find him. Thank goodness - anyway now we have a "table" to put our "radio" on and believe me we or I will never buy any thing without talking it over first.

I need to make an explanation about Al's name. His family all call him by his nickname: "Bee" and they have me doing it too; so from now it's "Bee" instead of Al.

Bee wore a white shirt, ties and dress pants to work and sliding in and out of the delivery truck was hard on the seat of his pants -- one day I noticed his pants were awfully thin and these pants were part of a suit and we got him new pants - "What to do with the old suit??" We had it cleaned and since I had a sewing machine, I ripped the suit apart, pressed it and made myself a suit. Bee and his Mom and Dad thought it was beautiful and were proud of me. (The sewing machine was a good investment.)

I'm so glad that Bee gets to come home for lunch every day - it's a very welcome brake in the day for me. We are so happy here in our own little home that we share with our little kitten. Bee gets to bring the grocery truck home at night so we have some transportation and can go to a show once in a while in the evening or go see his parents. If we want to go into Los Angeles or to the beach we take the big Red Cars (The Pacific Electric), they are Inter-urban street cars. They run to all the beach cities, to San Fernando Valley, to Pasadena, Sierra Madre, San Bernardino, and San Gabriel Valley areas. One Sunday we went to Ocean Park Beach where we rode some of the rides, had lunch, and danced at Casino Gardens, had a real fun time. When we went to board the Red Car to go out to Bee's parents we discovered Bee's wallet was gone - his pocket had been picked - luckily we had enough change for car fare out to Bee's parents.

Bob Schlum sold the market to Henry. Henry kept all the employees. It turns out business slowed down - we all feel that Henry doesn't know very much about running a market - will have to wait and see. We are all going to miss Laurel and Bob.

We went to see John and Ethel and the dear little baby girl they have. She and I see a lot of each other during the day and have become good friends, but with the guys putting in such long hours at work we don't get together very often in the evenings. This evening's conversation was about conditions at the market. Henry just seems overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done each day. He walks around saying "where am I?" and he has a hard time trying to order various items. The guys tried to help him even staying after closing.

On Friday, June 19th I had my hair done and walked over to the store to wait for Bee and ride home with him. We started home and Bee stopped before crossing Poplar then crossed Poplar and continued through the alley to Lifur where Officer Carter honked his horn and stopped our car. We had done nothing,

We feel the officer was intoxicated, for his breath smelled of liquor and he couldn't stand still. He tried to put hi foot on the bumper to write but he couldn't and leaned on ht fender and wrote. He talked loudly and swore and attracted attention by his noisy and rude behavior. Two little boys and a man stopped because of his noisy action and the officer told them to go on. The neighbors on both sides of the street came outside to see what was happening. After he left we went to a pay phone and called the police station and they sent an Officer to our home. We explained what happened. He went looking for Officer Carter but couldn't find him. He told us of an error in the citation - he put the time of writing the ticket as 2:30 PM at which time he was supposed to be walking a beat in Los Angeles. This officer told us where to go in L.A. The next morning Bee went to work and I went to L.A. to the L.A.P.D. Traffic Division to file a letter of complaint about Officer C.J. Carter. (See adjoining letters)

When I got home from L.A. there was a note waiting from my "Cheeto Sneezy Weeze" my love. Happiness is ours. Bee will be glad to hear the good news from my trip to L.A. I better have some lunch and wash up the dishes. Maybe we can run out to Mom and Dad Neese's after dinner and see how they are doing. Dad seems to be in good spirits - but the sore spot on his leg isn't healing like it should.

I better get the potatoes going for dinner and a salad before Bee gets home with the meat. Here come my sweetie now - "Aint Love Great".

After dinner we did run out to the folks - there was not one home so we went to the show. Guess who was there? Right! Mom and Dad - so we visited there in the lobby before we went home.

Eileen came over this morning and wanted to know if she could borrow my sewing machine. She wants to make new curtains for her kitchen and bedroom and do some mending. Bee took it over to her when he came home for lunch.

Business doesn't seem to be picking u at the store. Bee's orders and deliveries are not as big as they were. Today is wash day and when Bee domes home for lunch we were talking and out of the blue Bee said, "let's go to Sears after dinner tonight and get you a washing machine - Oh Happy Day - no more washing clothes in the bath tub. We did it 7-4-36. I can't hardly wait till my washer gets here. Delivery date is 7-17-36.

Helen and Edwin stopped by on their way home from Neese's to invite us to spend the weekend, July 10, 11,12, with them at Hermosa Beach where they have rented a cottage. This will be such fun - a delayed honeymoon for us. Our Heavenly Father sure watches over us. Bee came home from work with the news that Henry was going to lay Eddie off next week. Eddie is married and his wife's mother is with them so Bee asked Henry to let him go so we have 1 more week of work. So we took our last $.50 and went to the show and will be at the beach this weekend.

What a fun weekend we all had. Bee got caught in rip tide. I could see him getting further and further away from shore and I began to think I was going to be a widow. He went so far from the shore and got out of the rip tide, swam further down the beach and got back on shore. It really was a great weekend.

Bee starts his last week at Bob's Market today. He will be saying good-bye to the customers on his route. When he reached Mrs. Kitrings and told her this would be his last delivery and why, she told him to bring Marjorie and come see Pop tonight. When Bee came home for lunch and told me about his talk with Mrs. Ketring and our appointment with Pop Ketring - I was excited and a little scared.

After dinner we got cleaned up and walked over to the Ketrings. They invited us in and Pop said to Bee, "do you want to work for the R.R.?" Bee told him yes, Mr. Ketring explained a little bit about the work in the different yards and then told him to go to the Santa Fe Hospital for a physical and then to report to the wheel pit at 16th and Santa Fe; He is an employee now of the A.T. & S.F.R.R. on 8-17-36. Pop Ketring is the General Car Forman of the coast lines and he and Mom are such great and good people and loved by all that know them.

We have one big problem - Bee will be working at 16th and Santa Fe in Los Angeles at the wheel pit. We have no transportation, Bee sold his old car for $5.00 which he never got, we'll have to get Dads car for a few days till we can come up with something else. Friends are special.

Eddie came over to tell us his cars out front and Bee can use it to go back and forth to work so this solves this problem. Thanks Friend!

Bee's first day 8-17-36 was really hard on him. When he got home he was really worn out and I had to pry his hands off the steering wheel and needed two bath tubs of water for him to get clean. I'm sure he has sure muscles he never knew he had. Each day seemed a little better for him. He works 7AM to 3PM, starting pay is $37 ½ cents per hour and they hold back two weeks pay when you start so you work a month before you get your paycheck, but that's O.K. - if we run short of cash our credit is good at the market. We have to get up early these days, Bee likes to leave for work by 6:15AM and I make our breakfast and pack him a lunch - I sure do miss him coming home for lunch. Our routine sure has changed. I got out of the habit of going to the market but it's up to me to take care of getting this "job" done. Once a wee we go visit Dad and Mon and use their car to do our staple shopping and I get money orders for our utilities and once in a while I take a street car into L.A. and pay the bills there at the offices. Bee says one of the first things we'll do when he gets paid is have my shoes repaired - they need half soles - we've been cutting card board and putting in the insides of them.

We are so happy - Life is great - Love is special - the soreness is slowly leaving Bee's body. He says he feels more like his old self - I'm so glad for him. He said maybe we can take in a show this weekend - sounds good! Today is wash day and since Bee's been working on the railroad I'm so thankful he insisted a while back on getting a washing machine - working at the wheel pit is really dirty and I'm sure washing by hand would never get them real clean like the washer does. I love hanging them and then taking them down when they are dry - they smell so good!! It makes them easier to iron - they aren't so hard as they aren't so full of wrinkles as they are from hand wringing-It's so great being married to your best friend!! - I know he is feeling better for he's singing more. (Which is second nature for him.)

Think I better get cleaned up to go the store before it gets to hot. Think I'll get some pork chops and string beans, we've got tomatoes, need lettuce and avocado.

There's someone at the door - it's Dad and Mom Neese - this is a nice surprise. They had to go into Alhambra so they came by - I made us some lunch and we had a nice visit - Dad insisted on taking me to the store and back. I tried to get them to stay for dinner or at least until Bee got home - but Dad said he was tired and wanted to get home. I hope his leg isn't bothering him - he says it isn't.

I've got time now to take in my laundry and fold and put away before Bee gets home. There, laundry is put away so better get busy and snap the green beans, peal the potatoes and set the table. Bee should be home any time now. Better run fix my hair and put on some lipstick. Oh, there's the car - My honey is home - "how was your day Honey?" - good, each day is a little easier: -- "why don't I get cleaned up and after dinner let's go to the show!" -- Sounds good to me, I'll come wash your back when you're ready.

Thanks for that good dinner "Lil Pebble" - just leave the dishes so we can make the first show and be home in good time - 5:30AM comes up fast. Good Night.

Good morning, Sweety, it is a beautiful day - breakfast is ready and your lunch is packed. We are sure blessed to have Eddie's car to get you to work and home each day. We need to see if we can't make some other way for you to get to work and back home. While you're at work I'll put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with. Our rent is due Wednesday and we better give him our 30 days notice. Goodbye honey - have a good day, see you about 4:30. Love ya!

Well my morning work is done - think I'll go for a walk and see if I can think of some way for Bee to get to work other than using Eddie's car. Stopped in to see Ethel B. and the baby gabbed a while. On my way back home it dawned on me that we could move back home to my folks. We have as much right to be there as LaVer and Dan. I'll have to talk to Bee about doing this tonight. We can have my old bedroom - this will be great. We'll get to know little Charles Edwin better while we are all living in the folks home. It would also give us a chancel to save a little money for a "Rainey Day".

Eileen brought my sewing machine back and gave me ten dollars - this will make 3 payments on the machine. She was glad to have it. She said she got all the tings she had been putting aside mended plus the new curtains and a couple new blouses for herself and a dress for her Mom. Se is so nice - I enjoy visiting with her. They are from Boston and she has such a cute accent. I fixed us lunch, soup and a sandwich and coke for her.

Now that I got my sewing machine home I think I'll set it up and sew up a seem on Bee's work pants and my dress and hem the flour sacks I have for dish towels. Wish I had some of the iron on kitchens decals to brighten them up a little - when we have pay day next week I think I will get a patent - some material and make Charles Edwin a little outfit - it's hard to believe he is seven months old already. Better go make up that meat loaf and scrub some potatoes to bake and shell the peas - there is salad stuff in the refrig'.

I am so happy here in our little home and so in love with my "Cheeto Sneezy-Weezy" and he'll be home in an hour or so. This is the best time of the day for me when Bee comes home with his arms around that hug and kiss - I'm in heaven. Bee cleaned up while I made dinner. We talked about the prospect of moving to my parents' home in South Gate - sharing it with Dan and LaVer and baby Charles Edwin. We decided to go see them Sunday afternoon and make plans for a move.

Dan and LaVer was glad to see us and my how Charles is growing - he's almost 9 month old and crawling all over the place. He is so cute - he pulls himself up trying to walk.

Dan and LaVer said they would be happy to have us there with them - so it was decided when our rent is up on Sept. 7th we would move in with them. On our way home we stopped to see Edwin and Helen and then o to see Dad and Mom Neese. They are fine. Dad is doing some sign painting - their fruit trees are ripening and Mom has done a little canning. Time is marching on - we'd better hit the road home and call it a day and hit the "Hay."

Good Morning! Breakfast is over and Bee is on his way to work and the laundry is waiting for me. As I'm looking around it's amazing how much we have accumulated in these past six months. This move is going to be a great blessing for us. Bee will be able to drive with Danny on his way to work and Dan will drop Bee off at 16th Street and he will walk into the train yard to go to work - at the end of Bee's work day he will come home on the Street Car from 16th Street to Huntington Park and catch the Long Beach bus on home (Kansas Ave.). The best part of all this Eddie will have his car back.

When Bee gets home do I have an experience to tell him about. I went in to clean the bathroom and when I looked in the bath tub a mouse was looking back at me. I closed the drain, took the broom and cornered it, grabbed it's tail, dropped it in the toilet and flushed it real quick - it was bye, bye mousey.

Had a letter from my Mother and Dad it sounds like they are planning to move back home to Calif. Dad will come first and get a job and Mother and Grandpa will come later. There are no dates set yet, I guess Mother can't think of spending another winter in Iowa, not when she has a home in California. These plans will help us plan to have a place of our own and in the meantime we can build a little nest egg.

Since we will be moving next month I guess we need to get some boxes and start packing the things we don't use daily. Better go take my clothes off the lines and decide what to fix for dinner. I need to call Auitie the next time I go to the store and tell her our plans. They have been so good to me.

Well - surprise, there is Bee. I didn't hear him drive in. Hi Honey, I need that hug and kiss. How was your day? Each one gets a little better - the old body has finally got used to it's new routine. That has been a real big change for you - from "Grocery Store" to railroad wheel pits of the Atichen-Topeka & Santa Fe. Lil Pebble, come see what I have in the car for you. "Oh - boxes" - thank you, thank you. Now I can pack up the things we don't use very day.

By the time you get cleaned up dinner will be ready - were just having leftovers tonight. I'm so glad you got those boxes - have you looked at the calendar - lately - today is the 27^th - that gives us 2 weeks to pack and move. I know hat I'll be doing the next couple of days. I'm glad we don't have a lot of furniture - just table radio, sewing machine and washing machine. Lil Pebble let me get some of the things down from the high shelves for you tonight and you can pack them tomorrow. Thank you honey.

Let's kick back and enjoy that music: Wanta dance? Yes: "Let Me Call You Sweetheart then we better waltz ourselves to bed - 5am comes fast, so I'll say "Good Night Sweetheart" and waltz right into bed. Don't forget to wind the clock and put the cat out -

Oh what a beautiful morning. Bee is off to work, the kitchen cleaned up, so boxes here I come. Think I'll start her in the kitchen. I'll use my towels to wrap the dishes -- just leave enough for us to eat on and enough pans to fix meals in. I can pack our towels and linens and nick-nacks too. Before I start on the project I need to answer Dad and Mother's letter so they know what we are planning and doing. Should drop Willa and Kenny a line too.

Letter off to Mother and Dad and a note to Willa and Kenny too. Now to the packing. We sure got a lit of nice and pretty and practice gifts at my shower, some are fragile so will have to pack them carefully. My goodness it's 1 o'clock, no wonder I felt hungry, its lunch time --- I think I can finish this packing except the things we need until we move.

I think there is someone at my door - well Hi, Mom and Dad - on your way home from the Dr. How is your leg Dad? Dr. thinks there is some improvement. Great! How about some lunch - I was just about to make me some - soup and sandwich. O.K. Can you stay till Bee gets home? Come on lunch is ready. This is so great -- your stopping by.

Mom and Dad stayed till Bee got home, but didn't stay for dinner - Dad wanted to get home before dark.

Bee and I had dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and Bee taped up the boxes I packed today - that job is done and ready to move, so I guess our next move should be to bed - 5 o'clock comes real early.

Do you hear an alarm clock? Yes, I hear an alarm! Time to rise and sine Honey. Breakfast is ready. Little Pebble, are you going to town today and see about having the bas and lights turned off and tell them where they should send the closing bills? That's right hone - I had forgot about doing that - we only have 9 days to move day so I better get a move on - but no window shopping - cause we don't need any more to move!

O.K. gota run. Love Ya! Bye, Bye. Better get my "chores" done and then get cleaned up and head up to the street car to Los Angeles and get the utilities taken care of - I'll get off the street car by the market on my way home a get some meat for dinner.

Well the utilities are taken car of and the packing is done - so I guess we're ready for moving day. If Bee isn't too tired this evening we should run over and see John and Ethel and stop by Ketring

Honey, can you believe the big day is here and we'll be moved to "South Gate" before the day (9-12-36) is over. This is going to be a big change for you Bee, but it's "going home" for me.

Sounds like Dan and the "you haul truck" have arrived, and there is our "Land Lord" too. He wants to check out the house to be sure everything is O.I. with the house and furniture. All is O.K. Truck is loaded and South Gate, here we come.

LaVer and little "Chuck" are here to greet us. LaVer says our room is ready, so clothes, linens and toilet articles go in there and the radio, the rest go into the garage.

Dan and Bee take the "You Haul" truck back and Ber and I make some lunch -- for I'm sure Dan and Bee are hungry - Ber and I had a chance to visit and taled about making a chart of some kind so the guys won't be wanting to shave at the same time, etc. One thing that will help is Bee shaves before going to bed so Dan can have the A.M. Bee and I will get up early enough to pack his lunch and fix his breakfast - after a few weeks we will be running like clock work.

What is that I hear - sounds like Charles Edwin's nap is over and he wants "Aunt Marjorie" to come get him. He is so sweet and friendly - it has been quite a while since he'd seen us. He is growing by leaps and bounds. It [doesn't] seem possible he'll be a year old in three months, 12-7-36.

LaVer is calling us to dinner - um it smells so good! Bee is a real good cook - Thanks Bee - I ate too much - I am stuffed.

In all the hustle and bustle of moving I forgot to mention the biggest even of this month, Bee got his first pay check from the: Atchison-Topeka & Santa Fe" railroad. He worked Aug. 17th thru Aug. 31, 1936 a total of 110 7/10 hours at 37½ cents per hour = earning $41.51 - deductions of $4.14 so his firs check after deductions on Sept. 10, 1936 was $37.37. So Thursday, Sept. 11, 1936 is a special memory in our life.

Let Bee and I clean up the kitchen and you tow and Charles relax and we'll join you when we're done.

Bee and I are sure happy and glad this mave is made and Dan it is a blessing for Bee to have you drop him at the R.R. on your way to your work. The icing on the cake - we get to enjoy Charles Edwin - and maybe spoil him a little -- that's what Aunts and Uncles are for. God night all, see you in the A.M.

Good morning and it is truly a good morning. We've all had breakfast and Dan and Bee are on their way to work - what a blessing Bee I hear little noises - here comes LaVer and Charles. He is all smiles and ready for his breakfast. I think I'll wash up our breakfast dishes while "Ber" takes care of the baby.

We plan to go to the store later when Dan gets home and get some staples, stuff for lunches and dinner. I need to get toothpaste and hand soap and milk for Bee's lunch.

I'm anxious for Bee to get home and see how his day went and street car and bus works out. Think I'll walk down and meek the Bee 4PM and we can walk home together.

Charles is so cute - we took a blanket outside to enjoy the sun - he doesn't like the feel of the grass - so he never goes off the blanket.

Our neighbor, Mrs. Tyler, was out in her yard and I ran over to say hi and visit a few minutes. We have known her and her family since Daddy built our house here in 1924. it was her husband that Dad took back to the hospital some times in the middle of the night. Her two oldest children are married but Dean is still at home so she is not alone.

It's time to head for the bus stop and meet Bee I see the bus up the Blvd - "Hi Honey" - "this is a nice surprise!" I just couldn't wait for you to get home and hear how your day went and especially your street car and the bus ride went - did you have to wait long for the bus when you got off the street car? No - maybe 10 or 15 minutes, great! We were really busy today - I'll be glad to get home and get in the bath tub and get cleaned up.

Dan's home and dinner is ready - guess LaVer and I will go to the store after dinner and the "Guys" can baby sit Charles. We gal's will miss our Monday night "Radio Show" "Blue Monday Jamboree" and when we get home and get things put away I'd better write a letter to Dad and Bother and let them know we had made our move to South Gate and all is well. I need to drop a card to Mom and Dad Neese and Auntie and Uncle Forrest and Betty too - I pretty nearly have my day tomorrow planned. I need to do a little laundry too.

Bee says he is going to go shave and get ready for bed. That sounds like a good idea - think I will get me ready for bed too. Good night Dan, night LaVer and Charles has beat us all! See you all in the A.M.

I can't believe I've waited this long to write more for our "Family History". We have had several good things happen for us. Bee was talking to Art Thompson at work and Bee told Art that we had moved to South Gate and Art asked him where in S.G. did we live and Art said we were pretty close to them and asked Bee how he got to work and back home. Bee told him of our arrangement and Art said, "Well, Hay, you can come home with me - I can just drop you off at the corner". Seems we live on one side of the "Blvd" and they on the other - what a blessing - no more street and bus riding. They invited us over one evening and we met his wife Dorothy and daughter Beverly and we became good friends.

We had a letter from Mother and Daddy and it sounds like Daddy is going to be coming home and get a job and Mother will sell Grandpa Armstrong's house, they will come home.

Another good thing that has happened is Bee's last two pay checks have been larger than his first two. They have been having him working some hours as a helper and that pays 58 cents an hour.

I hear little sweet noises, Charles is ready - nap time is over and wants out of that crib.

Bee's birthday is today, Sunday, Oct. 18^th - but he has to work. He hasn't had a day off since Sept. 13th the weekend we moved here to South Gate. The good thing about his work shift from 7AM to 3PM, since he rides home with Art Thompson, he's home by 4PM and can clean up and we took the bus to Huntington Park last night and had dinner and went to the show to celebrate

It won't be long till Thanksgiving the way the days fly by. We will be hiving an election Nov. 10th, for President. Dan, LaVer and Bee will be able to vote, but I can't - I'm not old enough to register. The radio is full of speakers running for various offices and propositions. I think Franklin Delanor Roosevelt will get the 3 votes from this house. He had polio and needs to use crutches to walk and the man who is running against him, in his speech said: "He, Mr. Roosevelt, didn't have two good legs to stand on" and people said "if nothing can cost him the election, that remark will."

Had a letter from Mother and Daddy, everything is well with all of them. They are still planning on Daddy coming home after the holidays and finding a job then she and Grandpa will come out as soon as they get the house sold, which will no doubt be after the first of the year.

Halloween has come and gone. We had lots of Witches, Ghosts, Beautiful girls, Fairies and assorted animals - we enjoyed all the children they are such fun.

Well, next Tuesday is the "Big Day" when everyone old enough and registered to go to the poles and vote for the new President of the U.S.A., and then sit up half the night hoping to hear who the winner will be. The 4 of us are hoping it will be F.D.R. - in the meantime lets plan what we'll be doing for Thanksgiving. We could have Auntie and Uncle Forrest and Marguerite and Grandpa and Mom and Dad Neese. We will have to do some phoning and see how everyone is planning the day. Hay Dan and Bee, how is the voting coming - is F.D.R. ahead? Yes, he has a pretty good lead.

Bee: "Does anyone want to use the bathroom in the next little while - if not - think I'll go shave and hit the "hay". Sounds like a good idea to me. Think I'll say good-night and head for bed too.

The days seem to fly by - Thanksgiving came and went so fast and not how we thought it would be. Bee had to work so we stayed home and his Mom and Dad stopped by on their way home from the Squires. Dad's leg was hurting so they didn't stay long.

Today is Dec. 8th and it's Charles first birthday and his mom is making his cake and we will party after Dan and Bee get home - the cake turned out fine and LaVer did a great job of decorating it. We have a little gift for him - I'd better get busy and wrap it and get started on our Christmas cards - Christmas will be her before we know it - and we need to get a box ready to send to Mother, Dad and Grandpa and one to Willa and Kenny.

The guys are home and its party time! Charles had fun with his gifts - that is the gift wrapping paper on his gifts - wish I had film in my camera - when LaVer set the cake in front of him he grabbed with both hands - what a mess! LaVer cleaned him up - and we had dinner then cake and ice cream - "Happy Birthday #1 Charles!" The kitchen is cleaned up - guess we'll listen to the news and go to bed, if it's nice in the morning - think I'll go to Huntington Park and start my Christmas shopping.